La Angels vs Texas Rangers Picks and Predictions September 28th 2024

Rangers, Angels left hoping for a more prosperous 2025

From Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, we have the Rangers and Angels facing off in an AL West matchup. This one gets started at 9:38 PM ET and is being televised by BSSW. The Rangers are the betting favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -145 compared to the Angels, who are +124. The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs.

Griffin Canning will start for the Angels, and he will be looking to help them snap a four-game losing streak. As for the Rangers, they are 76-84 overall and will be sending Andrew Heaney to the mound. Texas is currently third in the AL West, while the Angels are 5th.

Texas vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Rangers at Angels
• Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim Anaheim
• Date: Saturday, September 28th
• Betting Odds TEX -145 | LAA +124 O/U 8.5

The Rangers Can Win If…

Left-hander Andrew Heaney gets the start for the Rangers today as he faces his former team, the Angels. He has made 30 starts this season and has a record of 5-14 with a 3.98 ERA. Heaney’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.22. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, giving up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Heaney has allowed at least one home run in each of his last three outings. So far, he has made seven quality starts this year.

Adolis Garcia has been struggling this season with a batting average of just .224, but he does lead the Rangers with 85 RBIs and is 2nd on the team with 25 homers. Garcia has been swinging the bat better of late, going 10/29 in his last seven games with two homers. Wyatt Langford also has two homers in his last seven games and is batting .259 during that stretch.

Corey Seager and Marcus Semien are the team’s top home run threats, with 30 and 23 homers, respectively. Seager comes into the game with a team-best batting average of .278. As a team, the Rangers are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 21st in the league.

• The Rangers are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rangers are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Texas has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Rangers have an average of 4.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rangers are 3-7
• Looking back across the Rangers last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Texas has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rangers have averaged 3.3 runs per game on offense

The Angels Can Win If…

Griffin Canning will be looking to bounce back from his last outing, where he finished with a no-decision. Against the Astros, he gave up four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. Looking back further, Canning has had a rough go of it lately, as he has allowed at least three earned runs in three straight outings. Before that, he had a stretch of three straight starts where he allowed two earned runs or fewer. Canning’s ERA for the season is 5.24, along with a record of 6-13. Opposing batters are hitting .261 off Canning this season.

Los Angeles comes into the game as one of the worst offensive teams in the league, averaging just 3.9 runs per game, which is 27th in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and have a team batting average of just .229. One thing the Angels have done well is avoid strikeouts, as their 8 strikeouts per game is 19th in the MLB.

Over his last eight games, Jack Lopez has been on fire for the Angels, going 11/23 with a home run and four RBIs. Zach Neto also has two homers in his last seven games and is batting .276 during that stretch. Neto is 2nd on the team with 23 homers, while Taylor Ward has gone deep 25 times this season.

• The Angels are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Angels are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
• The Angels have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Angels are 2-8
• Looking back across the Angels last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Los Angeles has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Angels have averaged 4.1 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Even though we have this one as the 5th lowest-scoring game of the day, we are actually leaning towards taking the over. As for a straight-up pick, we like the Rangers to come out on top. Texas starter Andrew Heaney has the 2nd best strikeout projection among today’s starters, and he is also 13th to pick up a win. On the other side, Griffin Canning has the 3rd worst innings pitched projection.

MLB EXPERT PICKS, PREDICTION & BETTING TIPS

The Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels are nearing the end of their challenging 2024 seasons. For the Rangers, glimpses of hope are emerging from the return of their ace, Jacob deGrom. Meanwhile, the Angels, mired in the worst season in franchise history, are struggling to find similar silver linings. As both teams prepare for their future, their sights are set on a more prosperous 2025.

Texas Rangers: Rebuilding with Optimism

After a World Series title in 2023, the Rangers entered 2024 with high expectations but failed to live up to them. Currently sitting at 76-84, the Rangers were eliminated from playoff contention in mid-September. However, the article underscores that not all is lost for the Rangers. One of the brightest spots has been the return of star pitcher Jacob deGrom, who made his comeback after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier in the year.

In his final start of the season, deGrom allowed just one run over four innings and finished the season with an impressive 1.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts across 10 2/3 innings. His performance has the Rangers’ fanbase optimistic for 2025. DeGrom, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, expressed confidence in his recovery, saying, “Everything felt good, and it felt like stuff was getting better each time.” With a regular offseason training program ahead, deGrom’s return could be a game-changer for Texas next year.

The Rangers have also seen positive contributions from Carson Kelly, who nearly hit for the cycle in a recent game, and Wyatt Langford and Adolis Garcia, who hit back-to-back home runs. While the 2024 season has been a struggle, these performances offer hope for the future.

Los Angeles Angels: Searching for Optimism Amid Historic Struggles

In stark contrast, the Los Angeles Angels are enduring the worst season in their team’s history. With a 63-97 record, they’ve set a new franchise low for losses in a single season. Adding salt to their wounds, they were recently swept by the 121-loss Chicago White Sox, making them only the second team to suffer that fate this year.

The Angels’ offensive struggles were on full display in their latest game against the Rangers. Despite only being retired in order once, they went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position, highlighting their inability to capitalize on opportunities. Manager Ron Washington acknowledged the team’s frustration, especially after facing deGrom, stating, “When you face that kind of guy, you’ve got to match his zeros. We just couldn’t.”

Unlike the Rangers, the Angels have fewer bright spots to focus on heading into the offseason. With star players either underperforming or sidelined, they will need significant improvements across the roster to bounce back in 2025.

Pitching Preview: Heaney vs. Canning

Saturday night’s matchup will feature former Angel Andrew Heaney taking the mound for the Rangers against Griffin Canning of the Angels. Heaney, who has posted a 5-14 record with a 3.98 ERA, has been inconsistent but held his own against his former club in past outings. In his most recent start, he allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings but escaped with a no-decision in a win against the Seattle Mariners.

Canning, with a 6-13 record and a 5.24 ERA, has similarly struggled, allowing four runs over 4 1/3 innings in his last start. He holds a 2-3 record with a 5.50 ERA against the Rangers over eight appearances. Both pitchers will look to end their seasons on a positive note, though the stakes are much higher for the Angels, who are trying to avoid further deepening their record-breaking losses.

Texas Rangers: A Promising 2025?

The Rangers are clearly in a better position to rebound in 2025 than their divisional rivals. With deGrom’s return, an emerging crop of younger talent, and key veterans like Adolis Garcia continuing to perform, the future looks brighter. The late-season success of players like Carson Kelly and Wyatt Langford only adds to the optimism surrounding the club. If the Rangers can make some offseason improvements, especially to their pitching staff and bullpen, they could return to playoff contention next season.

Los Angeles Angels: A Long Road Ahead

The Angels, on the other hand, are facing much larger hurdles. Setting a franchise record for losses is demoralizing, and with star players like Shohei Ohtani likely departing in free agency and Mike Trout’s future uncertain due to injuries, the Angels have more questions than answers. Rebuilding from such a disastrous season will take time and likely involve major changes to the roster and coaching staff.

Without any clear building blocks, the Angels’ outlook for 2025 seems grim. The lack of development from their farm system and their continued struggles in free agency suggest that a long rebuild might be ahead for the team.

Conclusion: Different Paths Forward

As both teams look to 2025, the Rangers appear poised for a more immediate return to relevance. With a healthy Jacob deGrom, a solid young core, and the experience of having recently won a World Series, the Rangers have the pieces in place for a potential turnaround. The Angels, however, are in a far more difficult position, facing the prospect of losing their biggest stars and with few promising prospects on the horizon.

Only time will tell how these two franchises will fare in 2025, but as they close out a difficult 2024 season, it’s clear that both are focused on rebuilding for a brighter future.